Control apparatus



oct. 13,1925. 1,557,073

J. S. MCWHIRTER CONTROL APPARATUS Filed June 9, 1919 wnNEssEs: 1111115111011 dbb/9 Mhs'mgw.

Patented Cid. 13, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN S. MCWHIRTER, O NEW YOR\K, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TG vWESTIITGrIHOUSE ELECTRIC) l f& MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION F PENNSYLVANIA.

CONTROL arrana'rns.

Vtor dynamo-electric machines and particu.

larly to platform controllers for electric railway motors. n

One object of my invention is to provide a. controller that may be selectively operated either by the hand or some other suitable portion of the motormans body,y or by power device.

Another object of my invention is to pro;l

vide a combined apparatus 'of the above-in dicated character lwherein the operating.

handle is not actuated by movement of the power device but is adaptedto effect operation of the controller when subjected to pressure of the mOt-ormans hand.

A further object of my invention is :to provide control apparatus for platform controllei-s whereby, either foot o r hand operation A' thereof may be selectively employed.

Aso

Other Objects of my invention, directed toward flexibility of operationand simplicity and reliability of construction, will become 'evident from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the .accompanying drawing, wherein i Figure l is a` view, chiefly in section, but partly in elevation, of a complete .control apparatus constructedy and arranged in accordance with my present invention;

Fig. 2 is a top'plan view, taken along'the lineII-II of Fig. l; and

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of an inutilu iary control system that may be employed. in carrying out my invention.'

'Referring to Fig. l, the structure here shown comprises a platform controller o" the familiar K type, embodying a maineircuit control drum Q. having an operating shaft 3 extendingupwardly through the controller cover, and a main reverser drum that is provided with an operating shaft Application filed .Tune 9,' i919. Serial No. 302,665.

I53'., to the outer end of which is attached the familiar reverse lever G.

The apparatus further comprises a power device Y, of a 'familiar electrically-con ti-oiled pneumatically-operatcd type, for actuating' tlie main control drum 2, when desired. am; 1i handfoperated device 8 lfor selectively actuating the control drum 2 when manual operation is desired. A foot-operatied coiitrollen Sl cooperates with the power device i.. f i e in a manner to be set forth, so ther. iii

one aspect, my invent-ion provides selective lt should be understood that. for the sake or' clearncss, l have illustrated my operating mechanism on a larger scale than is actually employed in practice, and, in reality, the entire hand-and-power-Operated mechanism i would not require operating space in a hori- :iontal plane larger than the area 'of the controller cover.

The power device l comprises s, powertransmftng member or pinion l2 which is slidably mounted upon the shaft 3 of the nia-iii control drum 2 and is provided with a. hub 'to act as a corelor a coil l-flthat is connected inA circuit with the control drum 2 and with the railway motors orl other apparatus to be controlled. The purpose of tliecoil lll will be set forth later. il. suitable.' helical spring lo encloses the shaft 3, the lower vend thereof resting upon the controller cover and the upper end bearing against the -hub 13 of the pinion l?. to hias the pinion upwardly to a position ol meshing engagement with a transversely movable raclr or power-tiaiisnii'ttiiig member A plate or dial: li, having a plurality of upwardly extending 'tongues or ridges lll, is secured to lthe upper face of the pinion l2 for the purpose of engagement with 'the liand-ol'ierated device 8, as hereinafter set forth. limit the upwardly bi'esin movenient oit the spring' upon the pinio l2, a

' The ends of the rack member 16 tively constitute pistons 21-and 22 that travel' energized, actuates the valve toj admit fluid cylinder 23. On the other 24 communicates with a normally open valvev pressurefrom any -suitable fsouice (not shown) through a supplyl pipe 26 tothe i 27Ithat initially places the cylinder 24in x5-'foot operated controller 9..

, communication witha supply pipe actuating coil Off is provided for cutting ofi' this communication and exhausting fluid pressure from the 'cylinder 24 to the atmosphere.I

wires or conductors for the valve magnets On -and. Oif may be housedin any convenient manner and are here shownas respectively connected to suitable junction boxes 29 and 30, a conduit 31 joinsv ing the junction boxesfand a second con'- duit 32 leading to. the control box 33 of the This f drumtype controller is provided with an operating shaft 34 to whichav pedal or foot lever 35 .is secured, for the purpose of effecting the operation of the controller and, there fore, the actuation of the ower. device 7, as described later in connection with Fig. 3.

The hand-operatedl device.8 comprises a f disk or plate t-ype of clutch -member 36 that is provided with a plurality of grooves or notches-37, which are located' in a complementary sense with respect to-thetongues or ridges 18 of the plate 17. The disk 36 is rigidly mounted upon a shaft or rod 38 to which is Vslidably-keyeda sleeve memberv 39 having a laterally extending aim 40. An operating lever 41 is pivotally secured to the arm 40, and an intermediate portionof the lever rests upon the upper end of the rod 38. The lever 41 is provided with the ,familiar grip 42 for effecting manual op eration of the controller. A, coil spring' 4 3 is postioned Within a recess in the upper face of the sleeve 39, to enclose the rod 38 and to bear against a pinor disk 44 that is positioned near the upper end of t-lie rod for the purpose of normally maintaining the plate 36 out of engagement with the cooperating disk 17, as illustrated. For the purpose of suitably supporting the handoperated device 8, a bent arm 45 ha's one apertured4 end loosely enclosing,- the sleeve 39. the lower end of the arm 45 being suitably secured to the controller cover.

` Assumingthat the various parts occupy the positions shown and that it is desired to effect'operation of the-control drum 2 by means of the power device 7 such operation may be set forth as' follows, reference and, the cylinder ing circuit-s, assuming that the foot-operated controller has/been actuated to its position b. One such circuit isrestablished from the positive terminal'of' a battery B, or other;r i

suitable source of energy, through conductor 50, control fingers 45 1 and 52, which are. bridged 'by rontact'segmen't 53 of the foot- 75 operated controller 9, whence circuit is completed through conductor 54, actuatingl coill On and conductors 55 and 56 to thenegative battery terminal. v

A further circuit is continued from the. Contact segment 53 through .control finger 57, conductor 58, Yactuating' coilOif and conductor 59, to the negative -conductor 56.

Since bothactuating coils On,. and

right and, therefore, of the control drum 2 in aielockwise direction, viewed from above, i occurs by reason of the fact that fluid pressureis admitted'to the cylinder 23 through the opened valve 25 and is exhausted from the cylinder 24 through the closed valve'- 27 thus reversing the initial unbalanced condition of fluid Ipressures 'inthe power device 7. Y

To arrest such movement at anytime', it ismerely necessary to return the foot-operated controller 9 to its position a, whereby the Off coil is de-energized, and balanced high Huid-pressure conditions,the1"ef0re,ob, tain in the .power device 7 to effect arpositive and reliable stoppage thereof.

-It will be understood that, if desired, other lwell-known expedients for eiecting stcp-bystep movement of the. power device 7 may be employed, such as a limit switch or current relay that is actuated in accordance with the currentv traversing the car` propelling motors or other apparatus to be veigization of the()l` coil. The simple system shown in Fig. .3, however, is believed to disclose vthe principle of `foot controlof the power device 7 suiciently for the purposes of the present specification.

To producea return movement of the control drum 2` the pedal 35 may be returned y to its initial position, either by `movement oi' the operators foot or by a suitable biasing spring, whereupon both actuating coils 0n and Off are concurrently de-ener. gized to cause fluid-pressure conditions ,in the power device, 7 to revert to the original unbalanced condition and thus effect the desired backward movement.

Whenever manual operation of the control drum 2 is required for any reason, theA handle grip 42 is depressed, in opposition to the action of-the coil spring 43, to cause engagement of the plates or disks .36 and 17. uo

4sis

. ment with the rack member 1G and, since the plates 17 and 36 'are ci' smaller diameter' than .the pinion 12, the rack member 16 is entirely free` from contact withany portion oi the hand-operated apparatus. Consequently, rotative movement of the handle .member 42 primarily effects similar movementof the rod 38, `which is keyed to the sleeve 39 and. therefore, of the engaging plates 36 `and 17 and of the free-running pinion 12 which iskeyed. to the control-drum shaft 3. A

In this way,-stepbystep manual control in accordance with thedesires ofV the motor man may be effected and, even though Vthe foot-operated controller Sl should acciden tally or otherwise be actuated, no 'interference with the hand-operated .movemerts in question can occur, by reason oit the fac iat the rack member 1G, as previously mentioned, is entirely tree from contact with any of the rotatableelements ot the apparal s.

Furthermore, should the motorman rol1 rse his downward pressure upon lthe handle grip 42, for any reason,during the operation of the controller, the pinion 12 will not be returned by the biasing spring 15 to its illus* tra-ted position, which would eli'ect improper relative meshing position of the pinion and the rack, because of the fact that the coil 14 which, as mentioned above, is energized by the current of the car-propelling motors, maintains the pinion 12 in its depressed position as long as the control drum 2 occupies any operative position. Although the coil 14 will thus maintain the pinion lin such depressed position under the conditions stated, the magnetic attraction thereof i me sufficient to pull the pinioni 12 down to that position, whereby improper movement ot the pinion 12, when the .power device 7 is being actuated, is prevented.

It will beseen that I have thus provided actuating apparatus for platform controllers or the like which may be selectively operated either by hand or'by power or, from another aspect, either by, foot or by hand control. should be understood, however, that other types and arrangements of bodyoperated devices may be employed, if desired.

I do not wish to be restricted to the specific structural details. circuit connections or arrangement of parts herein set iorth, as va. rions `modifications thereot may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be imposed indicated in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a movable trol'member, of a body-operated mer be power-actuated member normally conne to the controlmember to operate it in both directions, and means for. ellecting selective operation oll said control member including a connection of :either said body-operated member or said power-actuated member alone to said control member.`

if) trol drnnn'oi' a body-operated member, a power-actuated member biased to connection with said control member in both directions" o't operation, and means for normally preventing concurrent use of said members.

3. The combination with a movable switching device, of a powerfactuated member tor normally Aoperating said switching device in either direction, and means dependent upon body pressure lor effecting hand operation ol said device and concurrently preventing such operation by said power-actuated member. i Y el. The combination with movable switching device, of a, fluid-pressure actuated member ior normally operating said svt.trhinggxdcvice. and normally indepemlent means yt'or preventing such operation and com-urrently ellectingl body operation o t said devi e.

.3. The combination with a movable control member, ot power-actuated means therefor, a plurality, of power-transinitting members normally interposed between said means and said control member in either direction of operation. and body-operated means `for effecting relative inoperativeness of said poi*er-transmitting members and di-v rect operation said control member.

li. The combination with a rotatable switching' device, oi' a toothed member rotatable therewith, a second toothed member normally meshing with the other toothcd member, power means for actuating said second toothed member, and hand-'operated means for etl'lecting disengagement of saidtoot-hed members and operation of said switching device under predetermined conditions.

i. The combination with a rotatable' control drum, of a pinion rotatable therewith and slidable with respect thereto, a rack member normally meshing with said pinion, fluid-pressnre-operated means for actuating said raclt member, and independent means responsive to manual pressure for ellectine disengagement oft said pinion from said raca member and hand operation of said drum.

d. The combination with a movable con trol member, ot means operable to eliect manual actuation oi' the control member. means adapted to eilect power actuation'of 'the control ni ber and means cooperative to maintain continuously connection between actuating means and the .con-

either ,oi said tro?, member.

in combination, movmanual means operable operation ci? the coirtroi mein The combination with a rotatable con-fy ber, power means adapted to operate the control member, means disposed to effect a connection -between said power means and control member and means disposed to connect vsaid manual means to the control memently of said power-actuated member, and

other body-operated means for governing said power-actuated member independently of the first-named body-operated means to move said control element.

11. The combination with a rotatable control drum', of a fluid-pressure-operated member, electrical means for governing said member, body-operated means for y actuating said drum independently of the fluid-pressure-operated member, and other body-operated 'means for controlling said4 electrical means independently of the first-named body-operated meansy to move said control drum.

12; The combination witha movable control member, of means voperable to e'ect.

manual actuation of the control member. means adaptedpto effect power actuation of the control member, means adapted to con-- neet efitherA actuating means to the control member, and means adapted to maintain continuously either of said connections.

13. The combination with a rotatable control drum, of a fluid-pressure-operated member, electrical means for governing said member, hand-operated means for actuating said drum independently of the {luid-pressure-operated member, and foot-operated means for controlling said electrical means independently of the hand-operated means to move said control drum.

. 14. In a controller, in combination, a movablecontrol member, means operable to eect manual actuation of the control member. means adapted to effect power actuation of the control' member, means disposed for operation to connect either actuating means tothe control member and electrically-controlled means adapted to maintain one of said connections.

15. The combination with a movable switching device, of a fluid-pressure-actuated member for normally operating said device, a foot-operated member for governing said fluid-pressure-actuated member, and -anormally independent hand-operated member for preventing such normal operation and concurrently effecting manual operation of said device.

16. The combination with a movablecontrol member, of power-actuated means there-I for, a plurality of power-transmitting members normally interposed between said means 17. The Combination with ,a rotatable" lswitchin device, of a toothed member rotatable t erewith, a second toothed member normally meshing with the other toothed member, powerl means for actuating .said

second toothed member, foot-operated means for governing said power means, and handoperated means for eiecting disengagement of said toothed members and operation of said switching device under predetermined conditions.

18. The combination with a rotatable control drum, of a inion rotatable therewith and slidable wit ect thereto, a rack member normally meshing with said pinion,

iluid-pressure-operated means for actuating sa-idrack member, foot-operated means for governing said fluid pressure operated means, and independent means responsive to manual pressure for effecting disengagement of said pinion from said rack member and hand operation of said drum.

19. In a controller, in combination, a movable-control member, means operable to effect manual actuation of the control member..

means adapted to effect power actuation of .the control member, means disposed for Voperation to connect either actuatmg means to the control member and electrically-controlled means adapted to maintain one of said connections, said electrically-controlled means being adapted for release when the movable control member is moved to its off position.

20. In a controller, in combination, a movable control member, means operable to effect manual actuation of the control member, means adapted to e'ect power actuation of the control member, means disposed for operation to connect either actuating means to the control member, electrically-controlled means to maintain one of said connections and mechanical means disposed to maintain the other of said connectionr. said electrical and mechanical means being .ialanced thereby to permit the continual n aintenancc of either connection until the development of predetermined operating' conditions.

21. The combi-nation with a rotatable control drnm, of a inion rotatable therewith and slidable wit respect thereto, a rack member, a spring for normally biasing said pinion to engagement with said rack member, fluid-pressure-operated means for actutive movement of said drum upon the apposed for operation to connect either actuatplication of manual pressure to said clutch ing means to said control member, said con 10 member. necting means being balanced thereby to 22. In a controller, in combination, a maintain the connection established.

5 movable control member, means operable to In testimony whereof, I have hereunto effect manual actuation of the control memsubscribed my name this 16th day of May, ber, means adapted to effect power actua 1919. tion of the control member and means dis- JOHN S. llIoWI-IIRTER. 

